Combined player-piano and phonograph.



S. S. WATERS.

COMBINED PLAYER PIANO AND PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1910.

1,119,338, Patented Dec.1',19141 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

damue 6. 111m);

S. S. WATERS.

COMBINED PLAYER PIANO AND PHONOGRAPH.

APPLEOATIOI FILED JUNE 771910.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914;

2 SHEETS-BEBE! 2 Q Ill) UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

SAMUEL S. WATERS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIG-NOR TO AEOLIAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED PLAYER-LELAND AND PHONOGRAPH.

Application filed June 7, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S. IVA'rnRs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia,

e have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Player Pianos and Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combination of musical instruments especially adapted for the playing of two musical instruments together and in the same musical tlme, and 1s particlularly adapted for the playing together and in the same musical time two diiferent or dissimilar instruments. In the specific embodiment of my invention which I shall describe, a piano and a phonograph reproducer mechanism are combined. IVhile of the particular relation and adaptation stated, however, my invention is capable of use in connection with instruments of other types than those specified, in the same or greater number than that specified, and is also capable of use in other situations.

In the accomplishment of my present invention, I play the two musical instruments from a common record element, which element bears the records of both instruments. In the specific embodiment illustrated in the 30 accompanying drawings, I combine in this ;manner a phonograph reproducer mecha- "gxism and a self-playing piano. On the perforated record sheet of the self-playing ,piano is made a phonographic record, and

35 the two instruments, the piano and the phonograph are so positioned with respect to the record and to each other that they are both operated from the same record element, each being controlled by its respective record. In connection with this embodiment it is to be noted that the record sheet of the piano is in the form of a roll. Means are provided for unwinding this roll over a suitable reader to play the piano, and after the operation of playing, means are provided for rewinding the record sheet. I have provided an automatic means for removing the reproducer of the phonograph from the record upon the actuation of the rewinding device so that the record is not damaged.

Of the drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of the piano and phonograph reproducer mechanism with certain parts in section, a common record element being Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Serial No. 565,552.

shown in its relation to the two instruments. 111g. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse section of the record element and the associated readers of the instruments and the winding and unwinding devices of the piano. Fig. 3 1s a plan view of parts of the record element of one form, Fig. 4: is a greatly magnified partial section of the same showing the phonograph record, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the modified form of record element.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a self-playing piano generally, 11 is the record sheet which is provided with perforations 12 which codperate with a reader 13 to control the playing of the piano.

14 1s the record roll and 15 the take-up or unwinding roll of one of the usual forms of mechanism for moving the record sheet w th respect to the reader, and playing the piano.

16 designates a driving means in connection with the take-up roll, while 17 designates a driving means in connection with the record roll, which driving means is adapted to be coupled by a clutch 18 with the record roll for the purpose of rewinding the record sheet after the playing operation. At the front of the piano and on the key-bed is a lever 19 connected by means of a link connection 20 with the clutch 18 to cause the rewinding of the record sheet. This mechanism is now well known in its detailed structure in connection with selfplaying pianos, and its further details are not necessary to an understanding of my invention. Any of the well known types of mechanism for accomplishing the automatic playing of the piano, and the unwinding and rewinding of the record roll may be used in connection with the piano.

On one side of the record sheet of the piano I form a phonographic record 21. This is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 formed on an inlaid strip of pliable rubber 22 which extends lengthwise of the sheet parallel to the perforated record. This rec ord element is particularly adapted for use in connection with the phonographs employing a stylus which moves over mechanical formations, the stylus acting on a diaphragmto reproduce the sound. In Fig. 5 I show a modified form of record element 12 in which the phonograph record is mag netically made in the metallic portion 23 of the element. This form of phonograph record is particularly adapted for use with metallic record elements made of sheet brass, or iron, the essential requisite of this form being that the portion 23 of the record element be made of magnetic material. It isof course evident, that I may form the phonograph record for a stylus reproducer by making the indentation of the record directly in the body of the record element, whether that element be of paper or metal or other material. Supported from the casing of the piano, with its reproducing stylus 24: bearing on the phonographic record element is a phonographic reproducer sound box 25 of the commonly-used type. A support for this stylus comprises a horn 26 of the phonograph reproducer mechanism which is attached to a' bracket 27 at the top of the piano casing by a hinged joint in such a manner that the reproducer normally is supported with its stylus in engagement with the record, but by virtue of the hinged joint it may be moved from the record at will, and may by suflicient movement be given a stationary position on top of the piano, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

With the instruments thus combined, the records of the piano and of the phonograph being paralleled on the record sheet in the same musical time, and suitably positioned with respct to the reader of the piano and with respect to the reproducer or reader of the phonograph, the instruments may be played together and in the same' musical time with absolute uniformity and harmony. It is practically impossible for one instrument to get out of time with the other and the very best music may be produced from the combined instruments. After a selection has been played, if desired to rewind the record sheet, the controlling lever 19 of the rewinding mechanism is actuated. Connected to this mechanism by a shaft 28, is a pivoted lever 29, pivoted to the casing,

I and bearing by its outer end upon the reproducer of the phonograph. By a suitable dimensioning of these links and leyersupon the actuation of the rewinding mechanism by its control lever, the reproducer of the phonograph is removed from the record and from the front of the record sheet prior to the commencement of the rewinding operation. This efiectually prevents any damage to the phonographicrecord by reason of the record having been moved in the wrongdirection while in engagement with the stylus.

What'l claim is:

1. The combination with a piano player embodying a tracker, music and take-up rolls, a rewind mechanism for one of'said rolls, and a manually operable controller for throwing said rewind mechanism into and out of operation, of a phonograph mechanism cooperatively associated with the piano and including a record, sound-box and stylus, said stylus positioned for coaction with the phonograph record, and an operative connection between said manually operable controller and a part of the phonograph mechanism for lifting the stylus away from its record when the said rewind mechanism is moved to operative position.

2. The combination with a player-piano having a tracker and music-rolls, of a perforated music-sheet for coaction with said tracker, said sheet also bearing a phonograph record, a phonograph reproducer mechanism including a sound-box and stylus, said stylus positioned for coaction with the phonograph record part of the music sheet, means for movably attaching the said reproducer mechanism to apart of the player-piano, and a manually operable device mounted upon the player-piano for moving said stylus out of contact with its record.

3. The combination with a player piano, having a tracker and music rolls, of a perforated music sheet, a phonograph record on said sheet, a phonograph reproducer mechanism including a stylus, sound box, and horn, said stylus positioned for co-action with said phonograph record part on the perforated music sheet, movably mounted on part of the piano adjacent tothe tracker, a motion-transmitting device connected with the said phonograph reproducer mechanism for moving the latter away from its record and a manual lever for operating the same.

4. The combination with a player piano having a tracker and music rolls and the usual regulating levers at the front ofthe key board, of a perforated music sheet, a phonograph record produced on said perfOn' rated music sheet, a phonograph reproducer mechanism including a sound box and stylus movably mounted on the piano adjacent to the phonograph record on the music sheet, a motion transmitting device connected with said phonograph reproducer mechanism for moving the latter away from the said sheet, and a manual lever connected with said motion transmitting device located at the front of the key board adjacent to the other manual levers.

5. The combination with a player piano having a tracker and music rolls, of a perforated music sheet for co-action with said a action with the phonograph record-part of the music sheet and a manually operable lifting device for raising the stylus ofi its record.

6. The combination with a player piano having a tracker, music rolls and the usual controlling levers, of a perforated music sheet carrying a phonograph record, a phonog-raph reproducer mechanism including a stylus, sound boX, and horn movably supported on the piano with the stylus in position to co-act with the phonograph record portion of the sheet, and means operated by one of the said regulating levers of the piano for moving the phonograph stylus out of contact with its record.

7. The combination with a player piano having a tracker, music rolls and a control lever for a rewind mechanism, of a perforated music sheet carrying a. phonograph record, a phonograph reproducer mechanism including a stylus, sound box, and horn movably supported on the piano with the stylus positioned to co-act with the phonograph record-portion of the sheet, means engaging the phonograph for moving its stylus out of contact with the record, and an operative connection between said means and control lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL S. WATERS. Witnesses:

FRANCIS S. MAGUIRE, J. R. Tnnnox. 

